Human Impact on the Environment Minerals in Water

› Byproduct of bacteria in the biological filter breaking down ammonia and nitrite › Used as a food source by aquatic plants and algae › Can indicate sewage in the water or agricultural runoff › Leads to bad tastes › High levels = too much algae and health problems! › Should be below 40ppm NitrateNO 3 -

› A waste product produced by bacteria in the biological filter as it breaks down ammonia › Harmful in higher amounts!! › Should be below 0.5ppm ›Contamination in drinking water due to agricultural runoff and leaky septic tanks NitriteNO 2 -

› Measure of calcium and magnesium › Minerals dissolved in water as it moves through soil and rock › Water that is too hard leaves stains in bathtubs and sinks and makes them harder to clean › Help this problem by putting salt water softeners in your house › Preferable would be less than 120ppm Total Hardness

› Added to city water to kill bacteria and organisms in drinking water › Dissolve from rocks and sediments along the water source › High concentrations are harmful to young children and pets › Usually less than 100ppm Chlorine

› Maintains a constant pH in the water › Main sources are rocks which contain carbonate, bicarbonate, and hydroxide compounds. › Ideal is between 120 and 180 Alkalinity

› Measure of H atoms in the water, or how acidic the water is › Neutral is Close to 7!!! › High pH water can result from dissolved minerals, wastewater contamination due to the presence of chemical detergents and other cleaning agents. Municipal processing plants artificially increase the pH of water to prevent acid corrosion of pipes. Low pH water can result from acid rain and dissolved carbon dioxide. pH

› Added to drinking water to reduce tooth decay, build tooth strength › Important for children! › Natural Sources: weathering of rocks, volcanoes and seawater. › Human activities: mining and processing of phosphate rock and its use as agricultural fertilizer, and various manufacturing processes (aluminum, steel, copper, nickel, glass, brick, ceramic, glues and adhesives). Fluoride

› Needed by cardiac and nervous systems to function properly › About 3,000 mg of sodium needed daily › Natural: sodium-containing minerals. › Human Activities: road salt, water treatment chemicals and ion-exchange water softening units Sodium

› Important for strong bones and teeth! › Drinking water can fulfill 6-18% of your daily calcium need › Natural: dissolved from rocks › Human Activity: industrial waste and sewage. Calcium

› Supports blood cell turnover and the immune system › Used to make alloys, found in many electronic devices › Natural: dissolved from rocks › Human Activity: metal used in various industrial processes Magnesium

› Waste (sludge) › Road runoff (wood, rocks, dead animals) › Sediment › Fertilizers › Dissolved gases like hydrogen sulfide › Scum (grease, oils, plastics, soap) Things Removed from Water!

› Filters waste in the kidneys, reduces muscle pain, needed for growth, maintenance and repair of tissues, part of DNA › Too much can be toxic to humans and can lead to kidney or cardiovascular disease › Natural: algal blooms causes eutrophication › Eutrophication leads to a lower dissolved oxygen in the water › Organisms die  › Can be dissolved into water from rock › Human activity: sewage, agricultural runoff, pulp and paper industry, chemical and fertilizer manufacturing, and detergents Phosphorous

› have-more-minerals-than-filtered-water/ have-more-minerals-than-filtered-water/ › d-mineral-sources-and-significance.aspx d-mineral-sources-and-significance.aspx › › orus orus Resources!